Apparatus for forming and dispensing filter elements in devices for brewing and dispensing beverages



Dec. 7, 1965 s. w. SMALL ETAL 37 APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND DISPENSINGFILTER ELEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR BREWING AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES 6Sheets-Sheet. 1

Original Filed July 14. 1961 Z 2 PW w 9 a 27. \M 7 I a f l/ 6 a X 3% wINVENTORS SOLLIE H. SMALL DAVID HERMAN r I Mme. ZWI

ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 19 65 s. w. SMALL ETAL ENTS APPARATUS FOR FORMING ANDDISPENSING FILTER ELEM IN DEVICES FOR BREWING AND DISPENSING BEVERAGESOriginal Filed July 14. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS SOLLIE W. SMALLDAVID HERMAN BY Adm/1444.5

ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1965 s. w. SMALL ETAL 37 AND DISPENSING FILTER ELEMAPPARATUS FOR FORMING ENTS IN DEVICES FOR BREWING AND DISPENSINGBEVERAGES Original Filed July 14. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS SOLLIEW. SMALL DAVID HERMAN BY LL).

ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1965 s. w. SMALL ETAL 3,221,587

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND DISPENSING FILTER ELEMENTS IN DEVICES FORBREWING AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES Original Filed July 14. 1961 6Sheets-Sheet 4 BY My ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1965 s. w. SMALL ETAL ,587

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND DISPENSING FILTER ELEMENTS IN DEVICES FORBREWING AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES Original Filed July 14. 1961 6Sheets-Sheet 5 p 1 5. F 1 E- /:0 /28- H E J //7/ T /Z7 T; 4. /5 J W- I 7//9 E i ,8 /Z g a. /4 Ma g I if i I I a an "In. /6'8 i 56 969 1 M0 we WL /69 /6'7N F /68 [/39 y 229 E 200 Z 2w #4) 22/ Q. I 22 2/4. 224 5g 2/?E I 227 226 2/2 a 2/4 242E INVENTORS Z44 SOLLIE w. SMALL 2 DAVID HERMANmwgwa. 44W

ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1965 s. w. SMALL ETAL 3,221,587

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND DISPENSING FILTER ELEMENTS IN DEVICES FORBREWING AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES Original Filed July 14. 1961 6Sheets-Sheet 6 I 1, 7. //8 6 /47 I 1 //6 A20 /46 #7 XNVENTORS SOLLIE H.SMALL /a0 DAVID HERMAN BY Q/Mi ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 Claims.(Cl. 83-271) The present invention relates generally to improvements inapparatus for the production of beverages, and it relates in particularto an improved apparatus for the brewing and dispensing of coffeebeverage in unit quantities. This application is a divisionalapplication of our copending case, Serial No. 124,207, filed July 14,1961.

In the conventional hot coffee vending and dispensing machines, thecoffee flavor is generally stored in the vending machine as a liquidcoffee flavor concentrate or extract. Upon coin actuation of the vendingmachine, measuredquantities of the coffeeflavor and hot water areadmixed as well as a sweetening material, also creamlif preselected, andthe resulting, beverage is discharged into and dispensed in a cup. Whilethe coffee vending machines heretofore employed and proposed operatesatisfactorily from a mechanical point of view they leave much to bedesired insofar as the quality of the end product is concerned. Not onlyis the flavor of the dispensed coffee generally inferior but itdeteriorates with time and is non-uniform from cup to cup. This is inpart an inevitable consequence of the use of coffee extracts andconcentrates in preparing the beverage instead of freshly brewing thecoffee from the coffee grounds. Another contributing fact to theinferior quality of the con-ventional machine vended coffee is the widevariation in the temperature of the beverage water which adverselyaffects the end product. dispensing mechanisms have been proposed, thesehave been complex and costly, the preparedbeverage has been expensive,and the machines possessed numerous drawbacks and disadvantages as isevidenced by the fact that they are not in commercial use to anyappreciable extent.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improvedautomatic equipment for producing and dispensing a cup of coffee freshlybrewed from the coffee grounds, in which a fresh filter elment and freshcoffee grounds are employed for each cup of the beverage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcoffee brewing apparatus in which a filter element is automaticallyformed from a strip of filter material with each cycle of the brewingoperation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a brewingapparatus of the above nature characterized by its ruggedness,simplicity, reliability of operation, flexibility, and high quality ofthe end product.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of the filterelement forming and handling mechanism and the brew and sequence controlassembly constructed in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention, parts being shown rotationally and laterally offset forconvenience of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the improvedapparatus according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 2, partsbeing shown partially broken away;

While automatic coffee brewing and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view takenalong line 4--4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4a is a sectional view taken along line la-4a in FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating, however,.thefilter web advancing and transfer mechanism in successive operationalpositions;

FIGURES 5a and 6a are views similar to FIGURE 5, theweb clampingmechanism control being illustrated in successive positionscorresponding to FIGURES 5 and 6;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 10 isa sectional view taken along line 101l) in FIGURE 9.

Another important feature of the present invention is the filter elementforming and dispensing apparatus comprising a slide member movablebetween an advanced and a retracted position, guide means directing aWeb of filter material along said slide member, web clamp means disposedadjacent the leading end of said slide member, means urging said Webclamp means toward engaging the retraction thereof, and a stationaryclamp locatedbetween the leading and trailing ends of said slide memberand adapted to engage said web to restrain the movement thereof. Theslide member carries a web severing device alongits leading end which isactuated when the slide member is in its advanced position. A swingablefilter transfer member is disposed at the advanced position of the slidemember, receives the severed filter element and transports it to thewaiting brew receptacle as. aforesaid.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from thedetailed description of the embodiment thereof as hereinafter set forth.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, and par,- ticularly FIGURES 1 and 2, referencenumeral 10 designates generally the improved apparatus which includes acabinet 11 in which the various components and assemblies oftheapparatus are suitably housed and mounted. The apparatus comprises astorage compartment 12 supporting a roll R of filter material web W inthe upper part of the cabinet 11, a Web feeding, indexing and severingdevice 13 disposed below the storage compartment 12, and a filterelement transfer mechanism 14, in turn disposed below the web indexingand severing device 13. Adjacent to and in alignment with transfermechanism 14 is a brew assembly 16 which includes a cycle sequencecontrol and motivating mechanism 17. A coffee metering hopper 18 islocated above brew assembly 16. A hot water tank and feed water meteringdevice 19 is disposed adjacent brew assembly 16 and a beverage airseparator 20 islocated in the upper part of cabinet 11.

Storage compartment 12 (FIGURE 2) includes a vertical side wall 110, abottom wall 111 downwardly inclined toward side wall and spacedtherefrom by a transverse exit slot 112 and forming an acute angletherewith, ,a top wall and an opposite side wall. The compartment wallsare provided with inwardly directed flanges 113 which retain the roll Rof filter material within the compartment 12. The filter material is aband or web W of somewhat greater Width than the brew receptacle, andislformed of any suitable filter material such as cotton, rayon, paperor the like. The filter web W is withdrawn from roll R through adepending guide channel 114 vertically aligned with exit slot 112, and auniform restraining tension is applied thereto by reason of the wedgingaction of roll R in the dihedral defined by compartment walls 110 and111. As web W is pulled from the roll R it is urged against wall 110 notonly by reason of the weight of the roll but likewise by the rotation ofthe roll R toward wall 110 thereby to effect a wedging action on roll R.

The filter element preparing mechanism 13 (FIGURE 3 to 10) is carried bya vertical support plate 116 suitably mounted along a side wall ofcabinet 11, and is provided with forwardly directed horizontal bracketlugs 117 which support a pair of transversely spaced vertical trackdefining guide rods 118. An indexing slide member 119 is of channelshape and comprises a vertical base plate 120 disposed forward ofsupport plate 116 and along the rear of guide rods 118, and is providedwith forwardly directed flanges 121 along its longitudinal edges.Projecting outwardly from flanges 121 at their upper ends and atintermediate points are bracket lugs 122 having openings registeringwith guide rods 118 to permit slide member 119 to move between an upperretracted position and a lower advance position, as seen in FIGURES and6 of the drawings respectively.

Formed in the lower section of slide base plate 120 is a verticallyextending, medially located slot 123. A U- shaped jaw element 124 isaffixed to the support plate 116 and is provided with a pad-definingvertical arm 126 registering with slot 123, and being substantiallycoplanar with slide plate 120. A vertically extending web hold-down arm127 is medially disposed relative to slide member 119 and includes anupper rearwardly directed angle section 128 secured at its crotch to atransverse rod 129, rotatably supported by and between a pair of lugs130 mounted on legs directed forwardly from the upper edge of supportplate 116. Depending from the forward edge of angle section 128 is avertical arm 131 which is connected by an inclined arm to a vertical leg132 which is gravity urged to bear against the confronting faces ofslide base plate 120 and pad member 126 and terminates below pad member126. Filter web W traverses a path extending along the rear face of theangle section vertical leg, and between and in sandwiched engagementwith the confronting faces of hold-down leg 132 and base plate 120, andhold-down leg 132 and pad member 126, whereby to maintain the web W atall times in position suitable for advancing and handling.

A channel shaped web engaging member 133 is swingably carried by slidebase member 120, and comprises across web 134 provided with rearwardlydirected longitudinal flanges 136 abutting the inner faces of basemember flanges 121, and pivotally connected to the upper forward cornersthereof by a transversely extending rod 137 registering with alignedopenings formed in the flanges. Spaced below the lower corners of crossweb 134 and suitably secured thereto (FIGURES 3 to 6) are a pair oftransversely spaced web grip elements 138 terminating in rearwardlylocated arms 139 covered with caps 140 formed of a resilient frictionmaterial such as rubber. A bracket 141 is secured to and extends acrossthe front face of web 134 between the upper and lower ends thereof, andis provided with an outwardly forwardly projecting end arm 142terminating in outwardly directed ears 143. A pair of tension springs144 are connected between ears 143 and slide bracket lugs 122, normallyto urge the clamp member 133 resiliently to its tape clamping positionand web grip elements 138 toward engagement with the lower border of theslide base plate 120.

The mechanism for reciprocating indexing slide 119 between its advancedand retracted position comprises a lever 146 having rearwardly andforwardly offset legs 147 and 148 respectively, and pivoted between itsends to a stationary horizontal post 149 disposed along the side ofmounting plate 116. Arm 147 extends between plates 116 and 120 andterminates in a forked end which engages a rearwardly directed pin 150mounted along the far edge of slide base plate 120. The free end oflever arm 148 is connected by a vertical link 151 to one end of a rockerarm 152 (FIGURES 1 and 11) pivoted between its ends to a horizontalsupport post 153 projecting from wall 22. The opposite end of rocker arm152 carries a cam follower 154 which engages cam C2, and is urged intoengagement therewith by the weight of index slide 119 transmitted by wayof lever 146, link 151 and rocker arm 152. Cam C2 is provided with araised and depressed section and is so shaped and angularly related tocam C6 that the raised section of the cam C2 engages follower 154between the time the cam follower 61 engages cam section 3C6 and 4C6,that is during the coffee brewing period, and the depressed section ofcam C2 engages follower 154 from the time follower 61 engages camsection 1C6 until it engages about the mid-point of cam section 2C6.

The web clamping plate 133 is rocked between a web engage and a webdisengage position by a swingable arm 156 depending from and aflixed toa crank shaft 157 journalled between slide flanges 121 (FIGURES 3 and4). Shaft 157 projects beyond flange 121 and carries a depending radialarm 158 provided with an outwardly directed eccentric pin 159. Pin 159is urged into sliding engagement with the front face of a verticalchannel shaped bar 160 which is mounted along the vertical path thereofto wall 116 by a parallelogram linkage which permits the transversemovement of bar 160 while maintaining a vertical orientation.Specifically, channel bar 160 is connected by a pair of verticallyspaced, parallel, rearwardly directed links 161 to a bracket 162 mountedon wall 116, links 161 being pivotally connected at their ends tobracket 162 and bar 160. Bar 160 and bracket 162 are formed of similarlyshaped channels, and links 161 are likewise channel shaped.

Bar 160 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a vertical link 163,the lower end of which is connected to one end of a lever 164 pivotedbetween its ends to a horizontal post 165 mounted on wall 22. Lever 164carries a cam follower 166 which bears against the under edge of cam C3.Cam C3 is so shaped and angularly oriented that its raised sectionengages follower 166 only during the upward movement of indexing slide119 whereby, during this upward movement, web clamping elements 138 arein their retracted web disengage position as affected by arm 156 by wayof lever 164, link 163, bar 160 and crank pin 159.

In order to cut a filter element F from web W, there is provided atransverse bed plate 167 secured to the rear face of slide plate 120 anddepending below the lower edge of plate 120 and extending beyond theside edges thereof. Plate 167 has formed therein a longitudinallyextending slot 168 immediately below the lower edge of slide plate 120and extending substantially beyond the edges of the slide plate.

A pair of parallel plate brackets 169 project forwardly from the sideedges of bed plate 167 and are reinforced by top plates 170 secured tothe upper edges of bed plate 167 and plate bracket 169, and to the slideplate flanges 121 by upright ears 171. Supported by and between brackets169 adjacent their forward edges and at the level of slot 168 is a guiderod 172 carrying at its left end as viewed in FIGURE 3 a stop memberdefining sleeve 173, and at its right end a bumper-defining helicalspring 174.

Slidably carried by guide rod 172 is a carriage 176 including arectangular base plate 177 provided with upright parallel ears 178 alongits forward side edges, ears 178 having circular apertures formedtherein registering with guide rod 172. A lug 179 is directed upwardlyfrom the leading edge of base plate 177 and carries a headed pivot pin180. Mounted on the top face of base plate 177, along its rear edge, isa blade support block 181 having a rectangular transverse recess formedalong its rear upper edge which, in turn, has a clamp bar 182Teglstefing therewith. A headed lock screw 183 has a threaded shankregistering with aligned openings formed in plate 177 and block 181 andengages a tapped bore formed in clamp bar 182 to permit tighteningthereof. A cutting blade 184 has a trailing section releasably clampedbetween block 181 and bar 182, and a forwardly directed angled cuttingedge 186 projecting through and across bed plate slot 168 and forming anacute angle with the longitudinal axis thereof.

The cutter motivating mechanism includes a swingable vertical lever 187pivoted at a point below its upper end to a cross bar 188 supported byside legs 189 secured to slide plate flanges 121. The lower section oflever 187 is forwardly offset, and terminates in a yoke 190 whichstraddles pin 180. A solenoid 191 (FIGURE 7) is mounted on a bracketplate 192 supported by slide member 119 by means of a laterallyprojecting arm 193. Motivated by solenoid 191 is a retractable plungeror armature 194 which is connected by a rod 196 to lever 187 below thepivot point thereof. The upper end of lever 187 is connected by atension spring 197 to a lug 198 carried by an arm 199 projectinglaterally from bracket leg 189 to urge lever 187 clockwise, as viewed inFIGURE 3 of the drawing, and to transport carriage 176 and blade 184 toits retracted position. Upon energization of solenoid 191, armature 194is retracted to swing lever 187 counterclockwise and rapidly move thecarriage carried blade 184 along slot 168 to its advanced position, andupon deenergization of solenoid 191 spring 197 rapidly returns blade 184to its retracted position by way of lever 187 and withdraws armature 194from solenoid 191. Spring bumper 174 absorbs the shock of the advancingcarriage at the terminus of its advance stroke.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations,omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A filter element forming and dispensing apparatus comprising a slidemember movable between a lower advanced and an upper retracted position,and including a longitudinally extending plate having a vertically eX-tending longitudinal slot formed therein, guide means directing a web offilter material along a path overlying said plate, web clamp meansdisposed adjacent to the leading end of said slide member, means forurging said web clamp means toward engagement with said slide memberduring the advance movement thereof and out of engagement with saidslide member during the retraction thereof, a stationary clampregistering with said longitudinal slot and located between the leadingand trailing 50 ends of said slide member and for engaging said web torestrain the movement thereof and including a pair of jaw members, oneof which is supported for movement toward and away from the other jawmember and being normally urged toward engagement therewith, severingmeans carried by and moveable with said slide member and disposed in thevicinity of the lower edge of said plate and adapted to cut said webtransversely thereof, and means for actuating said cutting means whenthe slide is in its lower position.

2. A filter element forming and dispensing apparatus comprising avertical slide member vertically movable between an upper and a lowerposition, guide means directing a web of filter material downwardlyalong said slide member, web clamp means disposed adjacent the lower endof said slide member and movable therewith, means for urging said webclamp means toward engagement with said slide member during the downwardmovement thereof and out of engagement with said slide member during theupward movement thereof, stationary web clamp means located above saidmovable web clamp means, severing means carried by and movable with saidslide member and disposed in the vicinity of the lower edge of saidslide member and adapted to transversely out said web and means foractuating said severing means when said slide member is disposed in itslower position.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said slide member has atransversely extending slot formed adjacent the leading edge thereof andsaid severing means includes a blade element movable along said slotbetween an advanced and retracted position beyond the side edges of saidweb, and solenoid means for motivating said blade element when saidslide member is in its lower position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,964 9/1938Pityo 226-149 2,168,415 8/1939 Laukhulf 83-277 2,222,528 11/ 1940Chilton 83-455 2,3 11,452 2/ 1943 Maurer 83-277 2,353,405 7/1944 King83-277 2,468,620 4/ 1949 Gilbert 83-277 2,515,354 7/1950 Osborne 83-2772,633,878 4/1953 Forslin 226-162 2,634,974 4/1953 C-huy 226-1622,815,075 12/1957 Braunstein 83-575 2,831,684 4/1958 Cundall 83-161WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Examiner,

1. A FILTER ELEMENT FORMING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SLIDEMEMBER MOVABLE BETWEEN A LOWER ADVANCED AND AN UPPER RETRACTED POSITION,AND INCLUDING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PLATE HAVING A VERTICALLYEXTENDING LONGITUDINAL SLOT FORMED THEREIN, GUIDE MEANS DIRECTING A WEBOF FILTER MATERIAL ALONG A PATH OVERLYING SAID PLATE, WEB CLAMP MEANSDISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE LEADING END OF SAID SLIDE MEMBER, MEANS FORURGING SAID WEB CLAMP MEANS TOWARD ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLIDE MEMBERDURING THE ADVANCE MOVEMENT THEREOF AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDSLIDE MEMBER DURING THE RETRACTION THEREOF, A STATIONARY CLAMPREGISTERING WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL SLOT AND LOCATED BETWEEN THE LEADINGAND TRAILING ENDS OF SAID SLIDE MEMBER AND FOR ENGAGING SAID WEB TORESTRAIN THE MOVEMENT THEREOF AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF JAW MEMBERS, ONEOF WHICH IS SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE OTHER JAWMEMBER AND BEING NORMALLY URGED TOWARD ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SEVERINGMEANS CARRIED BY AND MOVEABLE WITH SAID SLIDE MEMBER AND DISPOSED IN THEVICINITY OF THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID PLATE AND ADAPTED TO CUT SAID WEBTRANSVERSELY THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID CUTTING MEANS WHENTHE SLIDE IS IN ITS LOWER POSITION.